Interstate 57 back open, after closing for chemical spill

MARION COUNTY, Ill. (KSDK) -- After three days of being shut down Interstate 57 near Kinmundy, Illinois is back open.

It shut down from about Farina to Kinmundy on Thursday afternoon and traffic was being rerouted to Illinois Route 37.

Illinois State police say an overturned tractor trailer was carrying hazardous chemicals when it overturned. The tractor trailer struck a guardrail on Highway 57 Southbound and overturned on Thursday, January 10, at 1:40 p.m.

Police say a leak was discovered in the trailer spilling hazardous chemical chloroacetyl chloride. The leak has since increased and currently there is vapor coming off of the hazardous material. The bad weather over the weekend did not help crews trying to clean up the spill.

Sunday three homes were evacuated and the railroad was also temporarily shut down. Just hours after though, crews had the mess cleaned up and residents were allowed back in.

Hazmat from Trimec and Freeman Environmental have developed a plan to remove the material and Sunday were able to finish the job.

"The tank had developed a leak and it is reactive with water it creates a hazardous vapor, which has caused us to close the interstate down to make sure no motorist drive through the vapor cloud," says Illinois State Police Master Sergeant Kelley Hulsey.